Birthright Armenia Alumni Newsletter Summer 2014

ALUMNI NEWSLETTER // SUMMER 2014

CONTENTS • • • • •

Catching Alum Doing Good Then and Now Spotlight Weddings and Babies AVC Call to Action Their “Next Steps”

• • • • •

Alum Move to Armenia Staff Corner The Quiz Connect Professionally Famous Figure in History

CATCHING ALUM DOING GOOD UK born Nigel Sharp (AVC ’10), the co-founder of Lionsharp Solutions, has been featured in Forbes magazine for their innovative product called Voiceboard. “The new company is primarily based in Armenia and hopes to bring the Caucasus start-up scene into the global spotlight”, said Forbes. Voiceboard is creating a presentation platform that incorporates different voice recognition platforms and Microsoft’s Kinect – the technology used for body motion control of Xbox games – to give presenters the ability to control presentations through vocal commands and gestures. Great work Nigel! We look forward to hearing more about your successes!

Edward Majian (AVC ’08) and Hasmig Tatiossian (AVC ’08), were chosen as winners of the “FedEx Small Business Grant” contest for their business SARTONK, a U.S. manufacturer, which is the premier designer of championship boxing belts worldwide. Edward’s grandfather, Ardash Sahaghian, a jeweler by trade and artist by birth, was invited to apply himself to the reinventing of championship boxing belts. It was in a New Jersey studio, under the management of Phil Valentino Sr., that Sahaghian gave shape to the now iconic modern boxing belts. Today, Sahaghian's contributions are advanced by his grandson, Edward S. Majian, founder and president of SARTONK. Aside from producing the classics in unprecedented quality, SARTONK is respected as a full-capacity design firm, with a steady flow of original and cutting-edge work. In addition to integrity and quality, SARTONK is devoted to social consciousness in the boxing community and society.

Setta Musheghian (AVC ’07) was selected as the “40 Women for the Next 40 Years” for the celebration of Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF) 40th Anniversary and Future Women Leaders. “Setta has been working in the field of sexual violence prevention since 2006. Although she probably didn’t know the monumental endeavor it was to take a cause like this one, she understood early on the implications of society that does nothing to stop this crime against humanity. Today, Setta is the Director of Crisis Counseling and Advocacy at The Center for Sexual Assault and Counseling and her passion shows every day in her commitment to prevention and services.”

-Ivonne Zucco, Nominator, The Center for Sexual Assault and Crisis Counseling

In early 2014 Nathalie Adam (AVC ‘2011) founded a charitable organization named Nairi e.V. together with some friends and family for the children in Armenia. Nairi e.V. financially supports projects with a partner organization called Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), based in Yerevan. Nathalie had worked for this non-profit as a volunteer during her BR experience. She remained connected with COAF and wanted to continue supporting them so she decided to raise funds for their projects. For this year’s campaign, Nairi e.V. has chosen the renovation of the school gymnasium in Arteni. You can find out more by visiting www.nairi-ev.org or by e-mailing Nathalie directly at n.adam@nairi-ev.org.

Nareh Keshishyan (AVC ’09) has been nominated to be featured on a nationwide website for her efforts with the California Optometric Student Association at the State University of New York (SUNY). One of the experiences she talks about in the article was her trip with Birthright Armenia/AVC in 2009, and the influence it had on her career.

“I made a promise to myself four years ago that once I became a doctor, I would one day implement a program to help children in Armenia. During my internship in Armenia as part of the Armenian Volunteer Corps in 2009, I had the opportunity to visit an orphanage and spend the day with some of the most determined and courageous kids I’ve ever met. As cliché as it may sound, something about their spirit inspired me to be better and never give up, so I hope to one day give back to them what they were able to instill in me.”

Read more here.

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Nareg Seferian (AVC ’02) and Lena Adishian (Maranian) (AVC ’06) launched a project called 100 Years, 100 Facts Project which involves a website linked through social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+, publishing one hundred facts about Armenian history and culture. The project launched on April 24, and will be going on until April 24, 2015, posting about twice a week. Some of the entries are immediately associated with the genocide and various facets of it, while others are about aspects of culture, religion, or language, notable individuals, different Diaspora communities, and more. It’s meant to be an enduring, meaningful celebration of our nation. They’ve managed to attract over 2,000 visitors since the initial launch. It’s a commemoration on the threshold of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

Anita Barooni (AVC ’13) was recently named a UC Human Rights Fellow and will be returning to Armenia this summer to work with the Foundation Against the Violation of Law (FAVL). Anita will be assisting with the preparation of FAVL’s 2014 Human Rights Status report, focusing on access to justice in four key areas: labor rights, property rights, women’s rights, and prison torture.

Taleen Terjanian (AVC ’10) was accepted to the Colorado Reading Corps, a strategic program of Mile High United Way’s School Readiness Initiative. Through this program Mile High United Way is able to increase the human capacity of elementary schools by integrating diverse, smart, passionate and trained tutors into the classroom and schools. Reading Corps tutors help students become strong readers by providing K-3 students access to additional reading support in the form of one-on-one tutoring. Good luck, Taleen!

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Help my cousin beat cancer!

Lusine Unanyan (AVC ’13) stayed in Armenia for four months and lived with her relatives, whom in the beginning, she knew very little about. Unfortunately, at the end of her stay, she noticed her cousin Arthur becoming more and more ill. It was only until she had left Armenia that she found out that her cousin, at the age of 27, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, five years ago.

Today, because of the limited experience of doctors and unavailability of the proper equipment and medicine her cousin’s cancer remains untreated.

Her cousin had to travel to Israel get the treatment he needs. However, the expenses have brought a financial toll on her family.

When Lusine was in Armenia her family refused to let their unfortunate circumstances play a role in her experience in Armenia. It wasn't until she left Armenia, that she truly understood their generosity and kindness.

Her cousin continues to be the bread winner, despite being ill. And in order to keep his job, he is unable to stay in Israel for long periods of time and therefore is required to travel back and forth.

After hearing this tragic news, Lusine started an online fundraiser to pay for her cousins medical expenses. The campaign recently ended but if you’re still interested in helping Arthur visit this website and make a donation. Thank you.

Nelli Martirosian (AAA ’07) has taken on a project to renovate a school in Artsakh, specifically the Lernahovit School in the Kashatagh region. She has raised $45,000 which in its entirety will go to the school expected to open this September. During the 2014-2015 school year, 29 students will be attending from Lernahovit, Spitakajur, and Shrvakan villages. 33 students are expected to attend the school during the 2015-2016 year.

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THEN & NOW SPOTLIGHT Alexandra Kazarian (AAA ‘04) still lives in Whittier, CA, as she did 10 years ago, but today she is married and has a 2 ½ year old son Max. She works as a criminal defense attorney at the Los Angeles County Public Defender's office, and is a Delegate to the California Democratic Party.

Before Birthright: I grew up as Alexandra Siranush Kazarian, a proud American-Armenian girl, from Whittier, California. I grew up knowing that it was my duty as a diasporan to tell everyone I knew about our history and our plight, even if I only knew enough Armenian to say "that water is hot, dummy." I knew the year my great-grandparents on my dad's side came to Fresno (1911), and I knew the name of the ship my mom's side took to get to Ellis Island in the late 40's (The Constantinople...irony abounds). I referenced Gregory the Illuminator, and Mesrob Mashdots, and told the Sasoontsi David story to everyone I knew.

theory, but I didn't push the issue. And the more I asked around, the more people in my family told me I was crazy to even want to go. I deferred my internship that summer, and spent the next year trying to learn Armenian on my own, and save every penny I could to buy my flight and have enough cash to last two months, while 7 thousand miles away from home. It seemed impossible. And then, a miracle happened. A new program was starting that would pay for my flight, give me Armenian lessons before, and during my stay, and would take me to every cultural and historical landmark in the country.

What I didn't know, was why almost nobody in my huge, extended family had ever been back to Armenia. When I asked my father, he told me about once asking his own father for money to go camping with his middle school friends. "What is camping...???" Babig Suren asked. Dennis explained, and Suren said "I risked my life and came halfway across the world to give you a better life than I ever imagined...and you want to PAY to live like a villager???" He didn't get the money. My dad explained to me that we were American first, and that we had a whole world to explore before we need to go back to Armenia. We carried Armenia in our hearts everywhere we went, he said, so we should take Armenia with us to places like...

Italy!

Before I knew it, I was off to Armenia! When I went to Armenia for the first time, I expected a barren land, filled with men who looked like my grandfather. I immediately realized that this was not my grandfather’s Yerevan--it was a young, European influenced city, alive with culture and art. I took at least 50 pictures a day and spent hours at the internet cafe emailing them back home. After the first full week of emails, my dad called me and asked me to be honest with him: where was I, he asked? There is no way these pictures are coming from Armenia. Enough, he said, tell me where you really are. I spent the summer making the most amazing memories, and brought the most interesting and wonderful stories home to my family.

That explanation distracted me for a while, but once the opportunity to intern in Yerevan through the Armenian Assembly of America arose, my curiosity returned, and I went to my father for funding for a summer in the homeland. I might as well have asked to go camping. He scolded me, and said his father didn't risk his life to get out of the country just for me to go right back. It was an overly simplistic

When I left for my trip, everyone thought I was insane and now, ten years later: It seems like almost all of the Montebello Armenians under 35 have been to Armenia at least once. Birthright Armenia reconnected me and my family with the homeland after three generations away, and I cannot imagine my children growing up without experiencing the same wonder and connection to the past that struck me. Now, if we can get my dad over there, that’ll really be something.

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WEDDINGS AND BABIES

Christine Serdjenian (AVC ’08) and her husband Jose Yearwood had their first baby girl, Ani Serdjenian Yearwood, on May 8th.

Edwin Mirzayans (Bars Media ’11) and Gayane Tevosyan tied the knot in Armenia on March 15th.

Mykil Bachoian (AYLA ’11) and Amy Powell tired the knot on March 1st.

Sophia Shahverdian (AVC ‘09) married Nader Hawit on June 28th in Potomac, Maryland.

Natalie Carmona Grigorian (AVC ‘06) married Wright Sigmund on March 29th near Guadalajara and spent their honeymoon in Cambodia and Thailand.

You came to Armenia.

You volunteered.

You made a difference and you loved it.

Now, it’s time to

invite your parents to have their own amazing experience!

AVC’s Professional Corps allows your parents to take their experience and bring it to Armenia for what is sure to be one of their most memorable and rewarding adventures.

They even get to enjoy all the perks you did, like weekly language classes, forums, homestays and excursions. They can share their wisdom with Armenia by volunteering at a placement

in their professional field of expertise or they can work on something else they’re passionate about or have always wanted to do, but never had the chance to work in. It’s all up to them. They decide what they want and commit to a minimum of two weeks. We take care of the details. All you need to do is tell them!

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THEIR

“NEXT STEPS”

Three BR/DH alums were just awarded “Next Step” grants from the Alumni Fund to carry out important projects in Armenia. Coincidentally, all three recipients are in-country alums who’ve been living in Armenia for one or more years!

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Alexander Azizian (AVC ’12), an in-country alum origi-

nally from Los Angeles, CA, received a $2,500 “Next Step” grant to help purchase new equipment for the Grigoryan Fencing School, founded in 1969 as a sports youth club.

Alex successfully ran a crowdfunding campaign through Indiegogo and raised over $3,000 more to ensure the kids attending the school have safe protective gear and the proper tools they need. The school is known to have trained USSR world champions and prize winners as well as master trainers. The school is also in desperate need of remodeling, which Alex will tackle next once the safe working equipment is purchased and put into use.

Touché, Alex!

2.

Armine Sargsyan (AVC ’11), was awarded $2,500 from the “Next Step” Alumni Fund to revive the central park in Hrazdan, where a playground will be designed and constructed. This project will be implemented in partnership with Hrazdan Municipality, Hay Antar State NGO, local Hrazdan community members, and Armenian Environmental Network (AEN), a nonprofit organization started by two Birthright Armenia alumni members. The communal park in Hrazdan is one of the few urban green spaces left in the area, and will be turned around from a neglected place often used as a garbage dump into a clean and green social space for children and their families to enjoy for recreation and community oriented events.

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3.

Raffi Kortoshian (AVC ’06), originally from Aleppo, will be receiving a $2,500 “Next Step” grant to publish an illustrated color booklet of about 100 pages, in Armenian, on the Armenian monuments of Kesab. The booklet, done in conjunction with Research on Armenian Architecture (RAA), is to present the history of the Armenian monuments of Kesab together with their Armenian inscriptions and epitaphs of funerary memorials. It will include high-quality photographs, maps, tracings and measurements, which can be useful for historians, architects and culturologists in Armenia and worldwide. The booklet will be distributed to scientific centers which will largely benefit from it from a scientific and research standpoint. As for Kesab Armenians and Kesab repatriates in Armenia, it will serve as a source of information for them to get deeper knowledge of the heritage of their birthplace.

ALUM MOVE TO ARMENIA

We are very happy to announce that we have five new BR alumni living in Armenia, making the total number 65 and growing!

Roffi Petrossian (AVC ’13), from Renton, WA, just completed his BR volunteer service.

Roffi spent his one year service in Armenia volunteering for: • Armenia Tree Project Bars Media Documentary Film • Production Studio • Aybuben Camp • Gyumri Municipality After completing his volunteer service, Roffi has decided to stay in Armenia and create an ethno-botanical resource guide of the plants and people of Armenia in order to aid the continued study and preservation of culture here in Armenia, as well as to create a possible future income for the residents here.

Gohar Shahinyan (ICHD ’13), from Hamden, Connecticut, recently completed her BR volunteer service.

Gohar spent her six month service in Armenia volunteering with Researchers for Bio Heating Solutions, with whom she is currently employed.

Her time in Armenia will include work in the rural development sector as well as development of the energy sector.

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Alex Igidbashian (Bars Media ’13) from Newtown Square, PA, just completed his BR volunteer service.

Alex spent his eight month service in Armenia volunteering with Bars Media Documentary Film Production Studio.

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After completing his volunteer service, Alex has decided to stay in Armenia and continue his work of filmmaking and photography.

He is continuing his working relationship with Bars Media, making content for Armenian Television networks, corporate entities, and he will be doing freelance work. Outside of work he plans to film his own venture and vision of Armenia to share with around the world.

Hagop Bedrosyan (AVC ’13), from Damascus, Syria, recently completed his BR volunteer service.

Hagop spent his ten month service in Armenia volunteering for: • Green Lane Agricultural Assistance • Kennel Union of Armenia (Dog Training Center) • Tumo Center for Creative Technologies • Figaro Restaurant Group, Factory Burger • Foundation of the preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) After completing his volunteer service, Hagop decided to stay and live in Armenia. He was hired by one of his volunteer placements, Tumo Center for Creative Technologies. He is currently working there as the Head Chef.

Achod Papasian (AVC ’11), from Hauts-de-Seine, France, recently moved to Armenia.

Achod had spent ten months in Armenia volunteering for: • Parajanov Museum • Reanimania • Naregatsi Shushi • Armenian Volunteer Corps • The Armenian Genocide Museum – Institute After completing his volunteer service, Achod went back to France but he has returned to Armenia to stay. He is a very talented musician who performs at different events and venues throughout Yerevan. He is currently employed by AEON, a newly opened café in Yerevan. Achod also plans on going to Artsakh to work with nonprofits in the near future.

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STAFF CORNER During the month of May we had a new addition to the Birthright Armenia staff by filling the position of Alumni Program Coordinator (APC) with Shant Meguerditchian (AVC ’13); as our previous APC, Shoghik Chilingarian, had to move back to California to pursue her next step in her professional career. Shant has already been in communication with a lot of you and if you haven’t already received an e-mail, Facebook friend request, or a request to connect on LinkedIn, be ready to click accept. The alumni network has grown more and more in the past several months and Shant is ready to take it to the next step.

THE QUIZ The correct answers for the previous quiz were: 1.

2.

3.

The head of the statue of what Armenian goddess was found in Satala (western Armenia) and where is it located now? (Answer: Anahit, British Museum) Name the Armenia produced “Instagram” rival smartphone app which has over 80 million downloads? (Answer: PicsArt) Name two of the four US states that have recognized Karabakh? (Answer: Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, Louisiana) Here are the questions for the next quiz:

2.

1. When is the Armenian Independence Day from Turkey?

Armenia is home to the world’s longest ______________ which takes you from Halidzor village to the Tatev Monastery.

3. Who designed the layout of Yerevan’s infrastructure in the 1920’s?

As always, e-mail all answers to info@birthrightarmenia.am and the winner will earn a $25 gift certificate for Amazon.com.

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CONNECT PROFESSIONALLY ON

Accelerate your career by joining our professional networking community on LinkedIn. Connecting with alum can help you discover business opportunities, land exciting jobs, distribute job listings, and get introduced to inside connections, all through your affiliation to Birthright Armenia and fellow Depi Haykers. Our alumni base, which now represents 32 different countries across the world, is well connected and you may be surprised by who they know.

FAMOUS FIGURE IN ARMENIAN HISTORY Soghomon Soghomonian, commonly known as Komitas, is the founder of modern Armenian music. His major work is Badarak (Divine Liturgy), still used today as one of the two most popular musical settings of the Armenian Church liturgy or mass, which he started composing in 1892 but never completely finished due to the upcoming World War I. He was the first non-European to be admitted into the International Music Society, of which he was a co-founder. He gave many lectures and performances throughout Europe, Turkey and Egypt, thus presenting till then very little known Armenian music. On April 24, 1915, the day when the Armenian Genocide officially began, he was arrested and put on a train the next day together with 180 other Armenian notables and sent to the city of Çankırı in northern Central Anatolia. His good friend Turkish nationalist poet Mehmet Emin Yurdakul, the writer Halide Edip, and the U.S. ambassador Henry Morgenthau intervened with the government, and, by special orders from Talat Pasha, Komitas was dispatched back to the capital alongside eight other Armenians who had been deported. In the autumn of 1916, he was taken to a hospital in Constantinople, Hôpital de la paix, and then moved to Paris in 1919, where he died in a psychiatric clinic in Villejuif in 1935. Next year, his ashes were transferred to Yerevan and buried in the Pantheon that was named after him.

STAY WITH US!

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